Bible Commentary

Psalms 81

Psalms 81 — Overview

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A [Psalm] of Asaph. Of "gittith", See Gill on "". The Targum renders it,"upon the harp which came from Gath;''and so Jarchi says it was a musical instrument that came from Gath.

The Septuagint, and the versions which follow that, render it, "for the winepresses". This psalm, according to Kimchi, is said concerning the going out of the children of Israel from Egypt; and was composed in order to be sung at their new moons and solemn feasts, which were typical of Gospel things in Gospel times; see and so the Syriac version,"a psalm of Asaph, when David by him prepared himself for the solemnities.'

'Ver. 1. Sing aloud unto God our strength,....

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Psalms 81 — OverviewPsalms 81 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThis psalm was penned, as is supposed, not upon occasion of any particular providence, but for the solemnity of a particular ordinance, either that of the new-moon in general or that of the feast of trumpets on…Psalms 81 — OverviewPsalms 81 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgePsalms 81:1, An exhortation to a solemn praising of God; Psalms 81:4, God challenges that duty by reason of his benefits; Psalms 81:8, God, exhorting to obedience, complains of their disobedience, which proves their own…Psalms 81:1-7Psalms 81:1-7 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWhen the people of God were gathered together in the solemn day, the day of the feast of the Lord, they must be told that they had business to do, for we do not go to church to sleep nor to be idle; no, there is…Psalms 81:1Psalms 81:1 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeA Psalm: Some suppose this Psalm to have been composed to be sung at the feast of Trumpets, before the time of David; and others think it was written at the removal of the ark to Mount Zion; but the most probable…Psalms 81:2Psalms 81:2 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgePsalms 92:3, Psalms 95:1-2, Psalms 149:1-3; Mark 14:26; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13Psalms 81:2Psalms 81:2 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleTake a psalm,.... Or "lift one up" ; hold up the book, and read and sing it; or rather, lift up the voice in singing a psalm:and bring hither the timbrel; or "give one" , put the hand to one:the pleasant harp with the…